More than five decades after Apollo 17’s last human landing in December 1972, humanity is preparing for a return to the Moon. Today, Wednesday, April 1, 2026, NASA’s Artemis II mission is set to launch aboard the powerful Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and the Orion spacecraft.
Artemis II represents a 10-day lunar flyby mission, specifically designed to rigorously test the Orion spacecraft with a human crew onboard. This crucial flight will validate all essential systems, paving the way for the Artemis IV mission, currently slated for 2028, which aims to put astronauts back on the lunar surface.
Weather forecasts are highly optimistic, with NASA Space Force meteorologists predicting an 80% chance of favorable conditions at the precise moment of liftoff. Today is considered the most opportune day within the broader launch window extending from April 1st to April 6th. The two-hour launch window for today will commence at 6:24 PM ET and conclude at 8:24 PM ET.
How to Watch Live
NASA will provide comprehensive, free coverage of this historic mission across various platforms, from the initial pre-launch fueling preparations all the way through to splashdown.
This is a developing news story…